the Ministry of Aba Affairs to hasten economic development of the Enyimba city if elected on April. Otti disclosed this during a recent business luncheon with members of Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry,

Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), where he said such a ministry had become necessary to fast-track the development of the commercial city, which he observed was currently in shambles. At the parley with the

Aba business community, he said the planned ministry was an initiative targeted at complementing other agencies of government and to speedily tackle the numerous problems being experienced by residents and the business community in the city. “As most of you can attest, the infrastructure decay in Aba is alarming.

Bad roads, blocked drainages, dilapidated market structures and poor city management. All these will be tackled once we are in government,” Otti declared. Otti restated his promise to abolish all forms of multiple

taxations in the state to give businesses a breathing space. He also declared his unflinching support for all non-indigenes plying their trade in the state, assuring that his government would offer them maximum

protection without any discrimination. “As long as you live here, do business or work here, pay your tax as at when due, law abiding and you are contributing to the economy of the state, you are entitled to enjoy equal privileges. “The current government sacked civil servants that are not indigenes of this state with a

flimsy excuse that they are taking jobs from the indigenes. I call that an inhuman decision. It also shows that they are bereft of ideas on how to create jobs. “With our blue print for the state, we will create jobs that will accommodate both indigenes and non-indigenes, open up our state to local and foreign investors by

creating an enabling environment for business to thrive “, Otti promised. The governorship hopeful urged the participants to see it as a duty to vote for him and other APGA candidates in the forthcoming elections in the state, saying that APGA is the only party that can bring about the change and transformation that

Abians desire. Manufacturers Association warn Enugu DISCO against 94 percent tarrif increase Manufacturers Association in the South East has raised alarm that no fewer than 600 companies in Enugu and Ebonyi states may fold up if Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, implements the recent 94

percent hike in electricity tariff for companies in the South-East geo-political zone. Rising from a meeting at the premises of Innoson Manufacturing Company, Nnewi, yesterday, MAN warned that should the companies close down, over one million workers stood the risk of losing their jobs directly and indirectly. The body argued that there was no basis for the discriminatory tariff for companies across the country, if the authorities meant well for the nation’s industrial and economic growth. In a communiqué issued at the

end of its meeting, MAN wondered why EEDC should increase tariff by 94.6 percent when that of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, for instance, was increased by only 22 percent. Chairman of MAN in the zone, Chief Azubuike Okafor, said: “The rate should be the same across the federation. If this increase is allowed, it will discourage investment in the South-East as investors will prefer other areas where the tariff is very low. “If the rate is not reversed, companies in the South-East geo-political zone will shut down or relocate to other areas, with its attendant consequences of job losses in the zone. It is impossible for any of

our members to cope with the increase. “We are competing with other parts of the country and if we are to pay the new rate, it shows that somebody somewhere is trying to close down industries in this part of the country. “We know we have a listening government, which would not want employed Nigerians to lose their jobs in the face of the growing unemployment and that is why this increase must be reversed.” The body also frowned at the continued payment of fixed charge, which it said was akin to “payment for inefficiency because all the companies run on generators more than on electricity.” He urged EEDC to allow its members to continue to pay the old tariff, warning that any attempt to disconnect them over the new tariff would do more harm than good. Sent from ProtonMail, encrypted email based in Switzerland.